An investigation dating back to 2004, when a young woman was approached by VCU Police for smoking a marijuana cigar as she walked near VCU campus, has ended with nearly $1 million worth of marijuana confiscated. An investigation by recently named assistant chief to VCU Police, Chris Preuss, uncovered a drug operation stretching from Richmond to California.

Authorities said that for several years, the drug ring had been having large quantities shipped from California to Richmond by storage container, often by truck. The drug network would hire companies to ship the sealed containers. Authorities said the companies did not know what was inside the containers and are not suspects in the case.

Richmond authorities said the high-quality marijuana being moved by the drug ring would sell for about $4,300 per pound.

Three suspects in the case have been charged with felonies. They each face a prison term between five to 40 years if convicted.